— In a nutshell, how would you describe Tenuta Potenti?

Chiara: “The Masseria is housed in a sixteenth century building and is immersed in nature between the blue sea and the open horizon in Puglia, Italy. It is the perfect holiday hideaway where body and soul can regenerate.

The building is flanked by the original outhouses that have been converted into simple, but chic guest accommodations. The whitewashed walls of the old farmhouse reflect the incredible light of southern Italy and compliment the stark Mediterranean landscape.

The 18 hotel rooms and apartments each have their own fireplace and private patio overlooking the lush gardens full of flowers and fruit trees and the swimming pool.

We serve home-made food and freshly baked breads and cakes, treating our guests to the best of Italian traditional cuisine in a friendly and informal environment.”

— Masseria Tenuti Potenti

— What was your motivation to open Tenuta Potenti?

Chiara: “My parents grew up in Puglia, met each other and got married there. After a while they moved to Milan for work and although they were both happy there, they were looking for a place to reconnect to their beloved home region during their holidays. They looked for a special place, ideally a masseria, with its own story and retaining its original features. After a long search they finally found this place and refurbished it.”

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— Please tell us a bit about the architecture and the interior design.

Chiara: “My mum has very good taste in interiors. She decided to respect the local style and traditions and puts flowers and dried herbs everywhere around in the Masseria. She also likes to re-use old furniture, hand-painted tiles, our family’s ceramic and other bits she gets in various antique markets.”

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— Please tell us a bit about the food at the Masseria.

Chiara: “All food at Tenuta Potenti is homemade and fresh. We harvest the vegetables in the morning and prepare them the very same day. Every morning we create a menu of our own products and fresh fish, as well as the wines from our vineyards.

For us the secret is not only the freshness of the products, but the love for the kitchen and the respect for the old recipes of our tradition.”

— Swimming pool

— Please tell us a bit about the activities at Tenuta Potenti.

Chiara: “Hotel guests are welcome to take part in our Mediterranean cooking classes, making homemade bread, taralli, friselle and orecchiette using seasonal vegetables from our gardens.

We also organise monthly yoga retreats and offer Ayurveda massages. My mom also loves to show our guests the hidden places of Puglia – the most beautiful beaches and the best places to get to know the real Puglian countryside and culture.”

— Masseria Tenuti Potenti

— To you personally, what is so special about the Masseria?

Chiara: “Masseria Tenuta Potenti is more than just a place to spend your holiday. It is a way to escape from stressful daily life, meet nature and recalibrate your senses.”

— Please tell us a bit more about your location in Puglia.

Chiara: “The sixteenth century Masseria originally belonged to the powerful family of the Imperiali. It lies in an estate of about one hundred hectares near the historic town of Manduria among endless fields of olive trees and vineyards, only about five kilometres from the sea with its endless dunes of golden sand.”

— Nearby beach in Puglia

— What do you particularly like about this region of Italy?

Chiara: “The wild and unspoiled nature here in Puglia, the sea, the hospitality and kindness of the local people and of course the exceptional quality of the food and wine.”

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— What are some of the hidden treasures to visit in Puglia?

Chiara: “I would recommend to visit the natural reserves of Salina dei Monaci and Palude del Conte as well as the many beautiful historic towns in the area.

One of the most beautiful towns is Lecce with its splendid baroque churches and monuments. Then there are also Taranto with its archeological museum, Matera with its cave houses, Le Valle D'Itria with its 'trulli', the white city of Ostuni, Grottaglie with its famous ceramics, Oria with its beautiful castle, as well as Salento, Martina Franca, Cisternino and Gallipoli.

My mum loves to accompany our guests to the hidden spots and show them the real Puglian countryside and culture.”

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— When is the best time for a holiday in Puglia?

Chiara: “Every period has its own magical atmosphere, but personally I love the quiet of May, the colours of June when the dunes around the seaside are completely violet, the warm winds of July and the music and the pizzica dances of the festivals in August.”

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— Thank you, Chiara!

Please check directly with the owner for special arrangements or information not listed here.

The suite has two rooms, one with the queen bed and the other one with 2 beds for the children. The rooms are connected. The rate is for 2 people. Each additional bed for up to 4 people is € 50 per night.

Hotel rate includes a delicious breakfast with freshly baked bread and cakes, cereals, yogurts and fruits.

The suite has two rooms, one with the queen bed and the other one with 2 beds for the children and a private garden (ca. 70sqm). The rooms are connected. The rate is for 2 people. Each additional bed for up to 4 people is € 50 per night.

Hotel rate includes a delicious breakfast with freshly baked bread and cakes, cereals, yogurts and fruits.

Our stay at Masseria Potenti was wonderful and I would give it a 5 rating.

I am not a big fan of the use of superlatives but I find it difficult to refrain myself from using them when talking about Masseria Potenti, a true oasis. The grounds of the Masseria are absolutely stunning. It is a place from which to admire the simple but grandiose beauty of mother nature, endless sky adorned by big puffy clouds, sun and moon, gorgeous sunsets or a dark blue sky riddled with millions of twinkling stars. Dreamy.

The food that graced our tables every evening was of the best quality and the breakfast buffet overflowing with fresh fruit and delicious homemade cakes and jams always made me wish I was able to eat much more.

Maria Grazia and her daughter Chiara are exquisite, warm, charming and competent hosts with a very good eye for design. The staff, Noemi and Adelle were absolutely lovely. After complaining about a hard bed on our first night, our mattress was immediately replaced.

The pool area is great as was our room, a cool refuge from the afternoon heat. We especially enjoyed our quiet and private little cacti garden.

Our only regret is that we did not book for a longer period of time but we are happy to have experienced this little piece of heaven that Maria Grazia and her family have created in Puglia. Thank you and we will definitely come again!

This place is absolutely stunning! Traditional and delicious food, white boho interiors, relaxed atmosphere, beautiful Grottaglie ceramics and a lot of wild flowers… So nice that I had to write about this place on my travel blog www.bravotangohotel.com and ELLE